Background

To establish adherence to treatment with erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESA) in patients with anemia associated to chronic kidney disease (CKD), and analyze its relationship to response to ESA.

Methods

Retrospective study of a cohort of 198 patients with CKD who started treatment with epoetin-β or darbepoetin-α, followed for two years. Basal characteristics, effectiveness (% of hemoglobin (Hb) target attainment, percentage increase of Hb) and adherence (medication possession rate) were registered. A non-adherent patient was one whose mean adherence was <90%.

Results

Average global adhesion was 89.6%, slightly higher in treatment with darbepoetin-α than with epoetin-β; 8.6% of patients were non-adherents. Hb target was accomplished in 87% cases. Level of response to ESA treatment was independent of the degree of adherence to treatment.

Conclusions

Adherence to ESA treatment was good, without differences related to degree of response.